Important MRT-RRT changes to take place in June

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Created on Thursday, 13 June 2013 07:28

Written by Editorial staff

Some significant changes will be taking place at the Migration Review Tribunal (MRT) and Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) next month, so migration agents should ensure they get their heads around them.

From July 1, MRT application and RRT post-decision fees will increase.

Every two years, the MRT is required by law to adjust its application fees so that they are in line with the Consumer Price Index.

The fee payable when lodging an application with the MRT will now be $1,604.

The increased fees will apply to all applications received by the MRT on or after July 1, 2013. Applications posted prior to July 1 but received after this date are subject to the higher fee.

The discounted fee (payable in cases of financial hardship) will also increase on this date to $802.

The fee payable after an RRT review when the decision is unfavourable to the applicant will also increase to $1,604 on July 1.

There is, however, no fee payable when an application for review is lodged with the RRT.

Migration agents in Australia will also be interested to hear that July 1 will see MRT-RRT prescribed periods and lodgement procedures being aligned.

A series of changes have been made to the Migration Regulations 1994 so that it aligns with the MRT and RRT prescribed periods for inviting an applicant to a hearing, to provide further information, and to comment on adverse information.

The changes affect invitations sent on or after July 1, and all correspondence from the MRT and RRT will reflect these new arrangements.

Amendments have also been made to the Migration Regulations 1994 regarding lodgement processes.

These include introducing the capacity for the MRT and RRT to accept applications electronically, although electronic lodgement will probably not be available until the end of this year.

The amendments relating to the lodgement of applications apply in relation to primary decisions made on or after July 1.

Finally, the Victorian Registry of the MRT and RRT is relocating.

From July 15, it can be found at Level 10, 120 Spencer Street, Melbourne. The tribunals' telephone and facsimile numbers, as well as their postal address, will stay the same.

All services will end at 17:00 at the current premises (Level 12, 460 Lonsdale Street) on July 12.

Starting at 08:30 the following Monday (15 July), over-the-counter lodgement of applications for review and other documents will only be accepted at the new premises. 

For further information, or if you have any questions, please visit the MRT-RRT website.